Industries that Use Diesel Generators

Industries That Use Diesel Generators

Diesel Engine 101The diesel engine is a type of internal combustion engine that can better be described as a compression ignition engine. Rather than being ignited by a ancillary source such as a spark plug, the fuel in a diesel engine is ignited by rapidly presenting it to the high temperature and pressure of compressed gas containing oxygen - usually atmospheric air. Inventing this process in 1892, it is named after a man named "Rudolf Diesel". While traditional diesel engine-powered generators may not not be considered 'alternative energy' sources, they are still an essential option for those industries requiring remote power or primary energy.

A Variety of Diesel EnginesThere are two options when it comes to diesel engines: two-stroke and four-stroke. Most diesel engines typically utilize the four-stroke cycle, with some larger engines functioning on the two-stroke cycle. Normally, rows of cylinders are used in multiples of two, though any number of cylinders can be implemented so long as the load on the crankshaft is counterbalanced to prevent excessive vibration. Generator sets produce either single or three phase power. Most residential applications require single phase power whereas industrial or commercial facilities usually require three phase electricity. Diesel generators are known for their durability, longevity and lower operating costs. Modern diesel engines are also more quiet and almost always require much less maintenance and ongoing service than similarly sized gas (natural gas or propane) units.

The bottom line is that the lack of an electrical ignition system greatly improves the reliability of diesel engines. The high durability of a diesel engine is also due to its overbuilt nature (see above) as well as the diesel's combustion cycle, which creates less-violent changes in pressure when compared to a spark-ignition engine. Unfortunately due to the greater compression force required and the increased weight of the stronger components, starting a diesel engine is a harder task. More torque is required to push the engine through compression.

Diesel Engine Generators - A Variety Of ApplicationsDiesel generators are perfect for the requirements of commercial and industrial applications of nearly every kind. Corporations lose revenue when they are forced to shut down during a blackout. The additional advantages being open while competitors without backup power are shut down and the ROI analysis appears even more compelling. Investing in a diesel generator for emergency backup power is a logical way to protect earnings, eliminate downtime, reduce missed opportunities, deliver results to clients when they most need them, and ensure security.

Most diesel generators today are designed to meet emergency power needs. The switchgear involved continuously monitors the electrical current and automatically transfers the load to the generators if power is interrupted for any reason. This quality leads to widespread use of diesel-powered generators across recreational, residential, commercial, communication, and industrial applications. Today, most medical facilities, nursing homes, five-star hotels, financial institutions, manufacturing plants, telecommunications organizations, mission critical municipal buildings, airport control towers, data centers, emergency response organizations, large industries, and mining companies and have backup diesel engine generators.

In the Field and On the Pavement: The vast majority of modern heavy road vehicles like trucks and buses, long-distance trains, large-scale portable power generators, and most farm and mining vehicles have diesel engines. However, in some countries they are not nearly as popular in passenger vehicles as they can be heavier, noisier, have performance characteristics that make them slower to accelerate. In general, they are also more expensive than gas-powered machines. Modern diesel engines have come a long way and with Turbo Direct Injection systems now in vehicles, eliminating most apparent differences between the performance of diesel and petrol engines.

In some countries, where tax rates make diesel fuel much cheaper than petrol, diesel vehicles are very popular. Newer designs have significantly narrowed differences between petrol and diesel vehicles in these areas. The BMW diesel lab in Steyr, Austria is led by Ferenc Anisits and is considered to be the worldwide leader in development of automotive diesel engines. Similarly, Mercedes Benz had a successful run of diesel-powered passenger cars in the late 1970s and 1980s. With a hiatus in the 1990s with relatively few diesel cars in its lineup, Mercedes Benz has returned to diesel cars in the 21st Century with an emphasis on high performance versus the older models' lack thereof.

In the agricultural field, tractors, irrigation pumps and threshing machines and other equipment are predominantly diesel powered. Construction is another sector that relies heavily on diesel power. All concrete pavers, scrapers, rollers, trenchers and excavators run on diesel.

Air Plane and Aerospace Applications:A few airplanes have been using diesel engines since the late 1930s. The newer automotive diesel engines have power-weight ratios comparable to the ancient spark-ignition designs and have far superior fuel efficiency. Their use of electronic ignition, fuel injection, and sophisticated engine management systems also makes them far easier to operate than mass-produced spark-ignition aircraft engines. The cost of diesel fuel compared to petrol has led to considerable interest in diesel-powered small general aviation planes, and several manufacturers have recently begun selling diesel engines for this purpose.

On the High Seas:High-speed engines are used to power tractors, trucks, yachts, buses, cars, compressors, generators and pumps. The largest diesel engines are used to power ships and liners along the high seas. These huge engines have power outputs up to 90,000 kW, turn at about 60 to 100 rpm, and are 15 meters tall.

USP&E Builds Mines in Africa and Other Continents - World WideThe mining and mineral extraction sector worldwide relies heavily on diesel power to harness natural resources such as aggregates, precious metals, iron ore, oil, gas, and coal. Diesel-powered shovels and drills excavate these products and load them into enormous mining trucks or onto conveyer belts that also operate on the same fuel. Overall, diesel accounts for 72 percent of the energy used by the mining sector.

Both surface and underground mining operations rely on diesel-powered equipment to extract materials and load trucks. The largest rubber-tired, diesel-powered equipment used in mining are enormous off-road trucks with engines of over 2,500 horsepower, capable of hauling over 300 tons per load. These giant trucks trundling across the land are a sight to behold.

Medical Facilities World WideDue to the fragility of human life coupled with the fact that most medical equipment today operates using electricity, Hospitals, clinics, surgery centers and nursing homes almost always have emergency backup generators installed to protect against blackouts. Whether there is a natural disaster like a tornado or earth quake or a transformer simply goes bad, medical facilities world wide do well to have well maintained standby power plants available onsite to sense any voltage interruption and assume the load if for any reason the primary power fails.

The Backbone of The Internet = The Backbone of the Global EconomyIn the twenty-first century, Computers are the backbone of the modern economy. When servers and systems go down, inventories become disorganized, communications are lost, files cannot be accessed, business stops, data is lost, clients cannot be served, revenues are lost, and commerce grinds to a crawl. This is why the telecommunications, data center, overnight mail, and emergency response organizations are some of the biggest clients of USP&E. With the reliability of their services affecting so many people, they really have no choice but to have solid backup diesel generator options in place for both their business, and the customers they serve.

SummaryDiesel is used in most industrial applications resoundingly because it offers more power per unit of fuel and has lower innate volatility making it safer to handle. Additionally, diesel engines allow for the possibility of eliminating petroleum consumption entirely as they can be coaxed into burning vegetable oil instead of diesel without loss in life or efficiency.

Choosing USP&E Diesel Generators is a great decision if you are looking for the best customer service, the largest inventory, the highest attention to detail and the most affordable options. In fact, we offer one of the largest selections of commerical diesel generators in the world. To get more information please call us at 888-515-8773 or email our team at info@uspowerco.com and allow us to serve you today!

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